Aileen Wuornos is remembered as one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. A sex worker who murdered seven men along Florida highways, she became the subject of headlines, documentaries, and the film Monster. But behind the sensational coverage was a life marked by trauma, instability, and survival at any cost.

Before the murders, Aileen experienced abandonment, sexual abuse, homelessness, and years of violence. When she was finally arrested in 1991, police used the one person she loved most, her girlfriend Tyria Moore, to obtain her confession. From there, the trial became less about justice and more about media spectacle.

On death row, Aileen’s mental health deteriorated and her final interviews left more questions than answers. Was she born dangerous, or did a life of abuse shape who she became?

Follow True Crime Recaps as we examine the woman, the crimes, and the systems that failed long before the killings began.